The Cursed Line & Blessed Heir

Chapter 19- A Word Of Caution

The week after the second task had been a whirlwind of emotions for Fleur Delacour. She had stayed in her carriage after returning from the lake, courtesy of the matron of Hogwarts who had recommended resting sufficiently after the task. 

The second task had gone horribly for her. She had jumped into the lake, well prepared for her task, but above all, worried about her sister who she had not planned on retrieving from the bottom of the lake. 

She had woken up that day, ready for the task and confident of winning, but a huge burden seemed to fall over her head when she learnt that a living, breathing person was supposed to be rescued from the lake. 

Just before the task, her confidence took a major hit when she learnt that she should be picking up her younger sister from that lake. Fleur didn’t doubt herself. She had faith in her capacity and knew that she could get her back as quickly as possible, but she worried for Gabrielle. 

Veela and the creatures of water don’t mix and this has been the same for centuries. There is a long-standing feud that was never solved between the Veela and the creatures of the sea and that worried Fleur greatly where Gabrielle was concerned. 

The elder Veelas carried their wands with them and they knew how to defend themselves in water. The creatures of water can mostly cause trouble, but nothing serious that they would be unable to handle considering Veelas were more than just creatures, but the younger Veelas cannot protect themselves. 

The younger Veela have very little magic in their bodies until they reach their first magical maturity and they are more fragile than a common muggle child growing up. 

She had been furious with both her parents and her Headmistress. How could they do this? She was still unable to comprehend how her mother agreed to this despite knowing about the history between Veela and the creatures. 

Her father had managed to calm her, sat her down and then proceeded to explain how the British Ministry had guaranteed him that nothing would happen to Gabrielle. Not only that, but none of the hostages were apparently in any danger to begin with. All she was supposed to do was turn up, retrieve her hostage and come back with their timings deciding their standings in the task. 

It was obvious. There was no way that they would endanger people for the sake of tasks, but she was not in a state of rational thinking in her urgency. She had dived in, her memory pushing her to the most probable location she knew, the merfolk village. 

She didn’t know how long she would have to swim for nor did she know if she was going in the right direction, but she kept swimming for more than half an hour to find nothing. She was feeling sluggish and she wanted to be anywhere else but here. But she had to put her discomfort to the side and continue. 

And continue she did, but she recognized movement around her. It was fleeting and quick, but she was sure that there was movement. She stopped swimming and looked around to recognize a group of creatures swimming towards her. 

Fleur recognized them instantly. She had read about the Grindylows as soon as she had understood that they had to get into the water. They seemed to be strange creatures in a book, but seeing them in person, she would not be in a hurry to classify them as strange. 

They were frightening to look at. Sickly green in colour, with two small horns protruding from the top, they could almost resemble an octopus, but the two long fingers gave them a different appearance. Those fingers looked like they could snap with a single touch, but she read that they were in reality strong enough to strangle a human. 

Her wand was off in a flash, cutting curses and leaving at a blistering pace striking the creatures. She cringed at the screeches the creatures made, but she was in no mood for mercy. Not when her sister was in trouble. 

The damn things won’t go down so easily though. Despite taking hits head-on, they continued to regroup and attack her. A few of them began to gain upon her and even succeeded in reaching her and attacked her from close range. 

Fleur hissed in pain as a few of them bit her and two grindylows wrapped around her left arm and began to squeeze trying to harm her. Fleur was right. She couldn’t escape from the grip despite trying hard and had to use a few cutting curses to make sure that they let go and that gave her the necessary time to breathe a little, but she had underestimated the ferocity and the numbers that she was up against.

As soon as she turned away from the majority of the group to peel away the two that had latched onto her left arm, they had closed up the gap and were now in close proximity to her body. She couldn’t look anywhere without seeing Grindylows and she had to fight at a quicker rate which was becoming taxing inside the water body. 

She was sure that she had injured a few of them beyond any retaliation, but there were still many of them to fend off and she was getting tired. She had to find a solution and fend them off as soon as possible and she was looking for some space to do something which was currently becoming impossible. Fleur had to think fast and she came up with a plan. She applied a heavy banishing charm pushing the creatures away a few feet and then began electrocuting them one by one. It turned out to be a better decision as this time, the Grindylows had no defence. They could somehow manage a cutting curse, but this was too much. 

It took a few minutes to make sure that she would not be bothered anymore and after that, she continued swimming to the Merfolk village in search of her sister. She was worried. She had been very slow since the task started and she knew that the duration of the task was complete.

She finally reached the Merfolk village after ten minutes of swimming around she made her way through the village and arrived at a stone structure of a merperson. The village was deserted and Fleur was helpless. She was running out of options and she decided to go back up and seek help. 

She began swimming back, gritting her teeth at the injuries she had suffered courtesy of the grindylows. She knew that she was bleeding a lot, but she continued on her way. 

She pulled herself up onto the land and she heaved for breath as she cancelled her bubble head charm. She turned around and her parents were next to her in a flash, gently leading her to the medical tent for the Hogwarts matron to treat her. 

She was surprised to see Gabrielle safe and sound and then she learnt about how Potter had brought her up with his hostage and also learnt how the boy had dived into the water without a second thought to look for her. 

He dived without hesitation to look for her. The very thought made her stomach flutter. Her perspective regarding the enigma that was Harry Potter was completely different from what she had come to expect when she learnt about him for the first time. 

She twisted and turned in her bed, hugging her pillow close to her body, a shiver running through her body. The very thought that Harry Potter jumped into the lake despite carrying injuries brought a smile to her face. 

“Just who are you, Harry Potter?” She whispered a sigh escaping her lips as the doors to her room opened and her mother walked in. 

“How are you doing, Fleur?” Apolline asked as she sat down on the bed, brushing a few stray locks of hair out of her daughter’s face. 

Fleur said nothing, choosing to crawl up to her mother and lay down on her lap. The woman chuckled as her daughter lay on her lap. 

“What’s wrong, love? Something must be bothering you.” The woman prodded gently. She knew her daughter. This behaviour of hers was reserved only when she was in confusion. This is what she does when she doesn’t understand what is going on and Apolline has dealt with this for a lot of time. 

“I just don’t understand him, Mama.” She whispered, a frustrated huff leaving her lips. “I don’t get him. He is nothing like I had thought. Every time I think about him from one perspective, he comes out and proves me wrong effortlessly.” 

The woman smirked at the plight of her daughter. She knew what was going on here. Her daughter was attracted to Harry Potter, but she was confused about everything. She had no idea what she was feeling and confusion was her immediate reaction to cope. 

“Am I right in assuming that it is Harry Potter you are speaking about?” Fleur nodded, a small frown decorating her features. 

“I had assumed that he was living off his name. How can I assume anything else, Mama? He is fourteen years old, but Albus Dumbledore backed him as soon as we arrived at Hogwarts. It seemed shocking, but it didn’t take long for me to learn why the man was confident of a fourteen-year-old.” 

He went on to throw the imperious curse like it was nothing and managed to disarm one of the most decorated aurors the magical world had seen. He then pulled out a corporeal patronus and managed to defeat a Hungarian horntail, one of the most dangerous dragons in existence. Albus Dembledore’s backing now made sense and for the first time, Fleur Delacour’s pride was broken. 

“How can a fourteen-year-old be better than most of us and not have the pride that the rest of them boast about with very much to show for themselves?” 

“Do you know? He learnt about the fire-related task and then proceeded to inform all the other three champions about the task. I was looking to win the task, but he was looking for our safety.” 

She was ashamed of her actions.  She still couldn’t believe what she was thinking before the task and if she had her chance, she would readily go back in time and correct her mistake. 

“Despite me insulting him for giving up some advantage from the first task, he then went on to do it again. He showed me the way to what he assumed was the location where the hostages would be held.” She scoffed in disbelief as she pushed herself off the woman’s lap. 

“He seems like a good boy.” Apolline deduced to which Fleur shook her head. 

“It isn't about him being good or bad, Mama. It's just that, all the boys I have seen and talked to till day always expected different things and thought differently.” 

“Everybody likes to take advantage of every small opportunity without caring about the repercussions some others might face, but in his case, it is the opposite. He tries to help people around him. Is it wrong on my part that I hold a little selfishness? Is that natural?” Fleur questioned her mother. 

“Or is it because of him being like that, I come off as wrong?” 

Apolline shook her head firmly. “There is nothing wrong in thinking for yourself, my dear. It is bad on your part when you think about yourself and think about bettering yourself at the expense of others. Thinking for yourself is not a fault, my dear.” 

“How is Gabrielle doing?” Fleur questioned, after a bout of silence. Her sister had been pulled out of the lake without much trouble and the girl had no idea what took place in the lake. She was worried about Fleur getting injured having seen her come out of the lake, but apart from that, there was nothing to worry about. 

“She is well,” Apolline assured her daughter. “She was worried for you, but apart from that, there is nothing to worry about.” 

“Good.” Fleur nodded. “What happened with the task? Did they tell the scores?” 

“Yes.” Her mother’s face fell slightly. “You were placed last, Fleur.” 

Fleur nodded. She expected that. She knew she would be placed last since she could not complete her task. 

“Harry Potter was given the first place. He was the first to reach the hostages but remained back waiting for the rest of you to come. So, he deservedly got first place followed by that Diggory boy and Krum. You are now in the last place but not far off. You can win this from now.” 

Fleur shook her head. The upcoming task or winning was no longer her concern. It took a lot, but she had managed to understand what Potter had been trying to tell her for a while now. These tasks and this title were not worth more than her life. It took facing a dragon and being drowned in the lake with Grindylows attacking her to realize that. 

“I don’t care anymore about the competition, Mama.” She returned surprising her mother. 

“I will, of course, participate and try to win it, but I won’t risk it all anymore. I have realized that certain things are more valuable than competition.” 

“Why the sudden change of heart, Fleur?” Apolline questioned. “I still remember how excited you were about this tournament and your plans to win it. Does that mean nothing anymore?” 

“It does, Mama. Everything I wish to aspire to doesn’t change, but I want to pick and choose my path going forward. Do I want a competition lost for centuries to pave my future? Do we even remember any past Tri-Wizard Tournament winners?” When her mother shook her head in the negative she continued.  

“Then does it change much, Mama? Does my winning or losing it make any difference when it adds no influence to anything going forward?” 

“I am not giving up, Mama,” Fleur added immediately. “I will fight to win the tournament. Have no doubts about it, but I will pick and choose my path. I will pick and choose my risks.” 

“Good.” Apolline smiled as she stood up. “I am pleased that you have put much thought into this, Fleur. These are realizations that many would come to after years and some might never realize it their entire lives.” 

“Did you have anything to say, Fleur?” 

“Nothing, Mama. Are you and Papa returning home?” Fleur questioned and she shook her head when the older woman nodded. 

“Your father has something important to attend to. Don’t worry, love. We will be back to watch the third task.” 

Fleur nodded as his mother stepped out of her room. It was time that she ventured out after being cooped up here. She had to learn what the third task would be about and carry on with her schoolwork. She will be taking the final examinations this year and she will have to keep up with her grades. 

“I guess I have to go and see Madame Maxine.” 

BREAK—-

Harry had still been feeling sluggish from the injuries for almost three days now, but he had managed to put away a lot of it. He had no idea what those tridents contained, but he had felt lethargic for two whole days before he could walk around without huffing and puffing. 

“The Headmaster is expecting me.” He said to the gargoyle which sprang apart allowing entrance into the stairs up to the Headmaster’s office. 

“Come in Harry.” The man summoned him inside. Harry shook his head as he entered with a smile on his face at the usual occurrence of the Headmaster calling his guests inside without them knocking on his door. 

“Is it really simple or is there a different magic on that door or the gargoyle?” Harry questioned and the man smiled, his eyes twinkling mischievously. 

“It really is simple. There are no different magics involved. The eyes of the gargoyle are the eyes of the Headmaster. Something related to magical signatures, I guessed, but we will never know.” 

“There are many such specialities of Hogwarts that I nor any other Headmasters before me have managed to uncover. Some things are beyond our understanding and according to me, must be left without much prodding.” 

“How are you, my boy?” The man questioned as he leaned back in his seat. “I learnt what took place in the lake with the merfolk.” 

“We were not pleased with what transpired and I have had words.” The man assured as he pushed the day’s newspaper towards Harry. 

“The public are outraged.” Dumbledore continued. “They are demanding an explanation for the mess that this tournament has been.” 

Harry could see that in the newspaper. The people were demanding an answer to the mismanagement of the ministry. The first task with the Dragons and now two champions being attacked and injured in the second task was not received well by the public. 

The article further read into a few interactions where people spoke about the tournament and how it was a poor decision to organize it with so much danger to students. A few of them were outright angry at the risk the champions were being put into.

“The minister is under high pressure, Harry. The Wizengamot, especially the Light-Sided faction were livid with him for going through with this tournament a few months ago when it was first recommended, but now, with everything that happened to you, they are downright furious.” 

Harry placed the newspaper back on top of the table and faced the man, a frown marring his features. 

“What does it mean for the tournament, Professor?” Harry questioned. He would be satisfied if the tournament got scrapped immediately, but that was too much to expect. 

“I don’t know, my boy. I would like to assume that there is very little probability that they will stop the tournament. So, you should get ready for the third task in a few weeks.” 

The man stood up and walked towards the window overlooking the lake. He seemed to be contemplating something for a few moments in silence. 

“The merfolk were instructed to prevent any one of you from relieving more than one hostage. When you tried to come back with more than your hostage, they attacked you. I don’t understand why they attacked you. They were instructed to scare you to prevent taking away two hostages, but none were supposed to attack any of the champions.” 

“Did you do something to gauge such a reaction? Provoke them in any way?” At Harry’s disagreement, the man sighed. 

“Then I have no idea what happened or caused such a violent reaction. Sorry, my boy.”

Harry shrugged not knowing what to say. It was over for now and he had one more task to look forward to. To date, he had not faced much difficulty, and he hoped that the school year would close without him having to do something complicated again.

“I wanted to speak to you for other reasons, Harry.” The man pointed out as he sat back down. 

“I think I have an answer to that dragon accident and the goblet blunder.” He added, surprising Harry. He had not expected to hear anything about those incidents. 

“I had managed to call in a favour from a friend of mine who managed to find out who entered your name in the Goblet,” Dumbledore said, his mind drifting to the conversation he had with Saul Croaker. 

“The Goblet was hoodwinked to consider a fourth school into consideration, my boy. Your name was entered separately as a fourth category and with you being the only name out of the Hogwarts, Beaubaxtons and Durmstrang categories, you were automatically selected without any other criteria being considered by the Goblet.” 

“It is not a simple feat of magic,” Dumbledore added. “The Goblet is a very powerful magical artefact and impartial to a fault. You cannot make a Goblet choose the second-best option at any given time or criteria. The Goblet always chooses the best possible option as the final outcome.” 

“Had your name been entered with the Hogwarts category, there was a high possibility that Mr Diggory wouldn’t have been chosen as our champion ahead of you.” 

Harry snorted in disbelief, but he let the man continue. Now was not the time he would be telling him otherwise. 

“So this fourth champion category was made up to cause problems,” Dumbledore explained which added to Harry’s confusion. 

“I don’t get it, sir. How do you mean?” Harry questioned. 

“This competition was pitched forth in the ministry by one man who has the Minister firmly by his ears. You can guess who I am talking about, don’t you?” 

‘Malfoy.’ Harry fumed, his fists balling up in anger. 

“He didn’t find it difficult to convince Cornelius who took it in stride and pitched the idea to the other two schools and their Ministries, adding that he would also play host to this competition. That convinced the three schools to begin preparing for an event of great prestige, but in reality, this event is supposedly being organised to, forgive me for saying this, kill you.” 

“I am sorry?” Harry knew the man was not lying. He knew Dumbledore would not be so cruel as to joke about something like that, but hearing it anyway, he wanted to double-check. 

“The tournament was promised to be organised with the utmost safety for the participants, but since the start of the tournament, there have been two incidents of trouble. One, the trouble with dragons that you had to face and the other, the incident with Ms Delacour being attacked by Grindylows and you being attacked by the merfolk.” 

“If something happens to you, it would blame the Ministry who would then blame the dragon handlers or the merfolk in the lake. So this gives whoever has been targeting you, free reign to do anything to harm you.” 

“These incidents are not a coincidence. I personally believe that they are trying to get to you on the orders of a specific somebody. You would know who I am referring to.” 

“Tom?” Harry questioned his tone one of hesitation. “You believe he somehow managed to get a body back, Headmaster?” 

“I don’t know.” The man replied honestly. “But I can assure you that he would have methods ready to get his body back or he might have already managed to get it back but is lying low for now, not wanting any attention on him. Either way, you should be ready for anything possible in the third and final task, Harry.” 

“Did your friend find out who was responsible for adding my name to the Goblet?” Harry asked and the man nodded. 

“Saul did say that he could make out a magical signature, but it was very difficult to identify. He did assure me that he would find out who was responsible in a few days. Trust me on this, but if Saul provides a promise, he will deliver on it.” 

That did little to appease Harry. Whenever he was promised something like this, it was never delivered upon and he knew by now that he should not put much stock into it. 

“Bad things are on the horizon, my boy. I can feel it closing in on us and I want you to be cautious. Keep your eyes and ears open and I will hope that you will come to me without hesitation if you have anything at all to talk to.” 

Harry nodded thankfully as he excused himself and left the Headmaster’s office, leaving behind a thoughtful, but worried Dumbledore. 

“I am counting on you, Saul.” He said as he picked up a few parchments and returned to his work. 

BREAK—--

He didn’t know where he wanted to go right now and chose to wander, his thoughts returning to the conversation he had had a few minutes earlier. 

“Bloody Lucius Malfoy.” He grumbled a frustrated breath leaving him as he looked around to see where he was. He was close to the courtyard and Harry decided to leave the castle for some air. 

He felt a tingling sensation in the back of his neck and simultaneously felt a presence nearby. He didn’t know if he was imagining things, but he ignored it and continued on his path until he felt the sensation once again. This time though, Harry couldn’t ignore the danger signs running in his head. Without a moment’s thought, he jumped to the side, and a yellowish beam of light zipped off inches away from his position. 

Harry had no choice but to counter-attack, but he couldn’t prevent himself from diving as another spell sailed past him. 

“You keep waiting like that and you will be facing more spells being thrown at you, Potter. Reaction is essential. Move quickly, Potter.” 

It was Moody who appeared out of nowhere, smirking as he limped forward. The man shook his head as he stopped in front of Harry. 

“You would not be having time to think all you want, Potter. Those spells are coming to harm you. One moment of lapse in concentration and you will be dead.” 

Harry stood back up onto his feet, his eyes not leaving the man. He had a few choices of words for the man, but he chose to remain silent. 

“Dumbledore has requested that I teach you something, Potter. I don’t want to waste my time. If I am to teach you anything, I want it to be to somebody deserving. If not, I would rather get into my bed curl up under a blanket and go to sleep.” 

The man stared directly at Harry, a challenging expression on his face as he waited for an answer to his challenge and nodded to himself as Harry nodded his agreement slowly. 

“Good..” He smirked, as he retraced his steps and began walking back into the castle. 

“Keep your eyes and ears open, Potter,” Moody said, turning back mid-stride to speak to Harry. 

“Constant Vigilance, Potter. It might save your life one day.” The man left, leaving Harry behind surprised by what he had witnessed. He had not expected this from Moody, but he was genuinely interested, now that the man had promised to train him. 

He will take it without hesitation. If the man would teach him something, he would accept it wholeheartedly. He knew what the man was capable of and just how the man had earned his reputation. 

“A productive day.” He snorted as he began walking out of the castle, his mind much at ease after the talk with Moody. He was now looking forward to what the man would throw at him. 

“Do your best, Moody.” He mumbled as he stepped out of the courtyard intent on taking that walk he had been thinking of. 

TBC—-----